An in-depth look at America's Values in 2012 as the nation heads into a critical national election in November. From death to taxes, the economy to politics, family, religion, science, education, free speech and beyond, this survey of 2,000 Americans identifies the issues that divide us and the ties that unite us as a nation. These are some of the findings of The Atlantic/Aspen Institute American Values Survey, conducted by research firm Penn Schoen Berland and in partnership with global public relations and strategic communications firm Burson-Marsteller. The findings will be the subject of a discussion at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

1. The Atlantic / Aspen Institute
American Values Survey
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2. Survey Objectives
The study of What Americans Believe, conducted by Penn
Schoen Berland for The Aspen Ideas Festival in partnership
with The Atlantic and the Aspen Institute, provides a detailed
assessment of what Americans say their values are. From
death to taxes, the economy to politics, family, religion,
science, education, free speech and beyond, this survey of
2,000 Americans identifies the issues that divide us and the
ties that unite us as a nation.
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3. Survey Methodology
 From May 25, 2012 to June 6, 2012, Penn Schoen Berland conducted 2,006 interviews
with the adult general population of the United States. Of the 2,006 interviews
completed, 1,006 interviews were conducted by phone and 1,000 interviews were
conducted online.
Sample Size Margin of Error
General Population (All), including: 2,006 ±2.19%
Male 963 ±3.16%
Female 1,043 ±3.03%
Age 18-29 441 ±4.67%
Age 30-44 542 ±4.21%
Age 45-64 682 ±3.75%
Age 65+ 341 ±5.31%
Democrats 622 ±3.93%
Republicans 542 ±4.21%
Independents 782 ±3.50%
Northeast 361 ±5.16%
Midwest 441 ±4.67%
South 722 ±3.65%
West 481 ±4.47%
 The data presented in this study are reflective of U.S. Census Bureau demographic
statistics in terms of gender, age, ethnicity, income, education, and region.
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4. Most think American values have declined
since the 1970’s
Do you think that American values have strengthened, declined, or stayed about the
same since the 1970’s?
Stronger Stayed the same Weaker Don't know
17% 12% 69% 1%
Showing All
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5. Political corruption, focus on money and declining
family values weakens American values
Which, if any, of these factors do you think contributes to America having weaker
values than other places in the world? Please tell me all that apply.
Political corruption 63%
Influence of money in politics 61%
Too much focus on money / material things 61%
Declining family values 61%
Celebrity-obsessed culture 57%
Scandals by public officials 55%
Use of drugs and alcohol 55%
Lack of strong moral leaders / role models 53%
Apathy / lack of strong work ethic 47%
Too much political correctness 47%
Power of Wall Street 43%
Openness to accepting alternate lifestyles 30%
Other 3% Showing All
None of the above 3%
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6. Fewer Americans are embracing religion
Do you believe in God?
Yes No
89% 11%
2012
98% 1%
1967; Gallup
Age 18-29
81% 19%
2012
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7. Well documented changes on social tolerance
Please indicate whether each of the following is morally acceptable or
morally objectionable.
Morally acceptable Morally objectionable
A woman with children working outside the home 90%
9%
Using contraception 84%
13%
Interracial marriage 83%
15%
Sex education in public schools 78%
21%
An unmarried man and woman living together 69%
30%
Divorce 69%
29%
Stem cell research 69%
26%
Capital punishment 64%
32%
Gambling 61%
37%
Pre-marital sex 60%
39% Showing All
Having a child out of wedlock 57%
40%
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8. Homosexuality is now morally acceptable to a
majority while pornography and drug usage are not
Please indicate whether each of the following is morally acceptable or
morally objectionable.
Morally acceptable Morally objectionable
Homosexuality 53%
45%
Adults viewing pornography 47%
52%
Abortion 41%
57%
Smoking marijuana 41%
56%
Censoring explicit books or media 38%
58%
Doctor-assisted suicide 37%
60%
Prostitution 22%
77%
Cloning designed to result in the birth of a human 18%
being 79%
Underage drinking 14%
85%
Using illegal drugs (other than marijuana) 11%
89%
Showing All
Athletes using performance enhancing drugs 10%
89%
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9. Most Americans and especially younger
generations accept alternative lifestyles
Please indicate whether each of the following is morally acceptable or
morally objectionable.
% Morally Acceptable
18-29 65+
76%
62%
52% 52%
45%
36% 36%
21%
An unmarried man and Homosexuality Smoking marijuana Abortion
woman living together
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10. Americans also see a strong right to live
If the government (for example through Medicare) is paying the medical bills, should
someone on life support be required to be kept alive?
5%
Yes
39% No
56%
Don't know
Showing All
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11. 69% say ensuring access to healthcare is the
responsibility of the government
Do you think it is the responsibility of the government to make sure that
all Americans have...?
No Yes
71% 69% 68%
47% 46% 40%
29% 31% 31%
51% 53% 59%
Enough food Access to A high school
healthcare education
coverage
A home to live in A job
A college
Showing All education
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12. 3 in 4 say those with pre-existing conditions
should not be denied coverage
Which of the following is closer to your view?
Health insurance Pre-existing
should be conditions can be
required to very expensive,
provide care for and health
people who have 77% 20% insurers or the
pre-existing government
conditions, even if should not be
the government required to pay
has to pay for it Showing All for them
% say health insurance should be required to provide care for
people who have pre-existing conditions
88% 78%
62%
Democrats Republicans Independents
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13. 54% say the government should exert more
influence over healthcare system
Which of the following is closer to your view?
The government The government
should exert more should reduce the
influence over amount of
America’s influence it has
healthcare over America’s
system, in an 54% 44% healthcare
attempt to lower system, because
costs and provide a more free-
healthcare market system
coverage for all Showing All will bring costs
Americans down
% say the government should exert more influence over America’s
healthcare system
76%
55%
26%
Democrats Republicans Independents
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14. Growing percentages oppose any outright
bans on handgun ownership
Believe there should not be a law that would
64% ban the possession of handguns, except by
the police and other authorized persons.
62% 64%
51% 55%
An increase since 1980
1980 1990 2000 2012
(Gallup) (Gallup) (Gallup)
72% Believe that all Americans have the right
to use deadly force to defend themselves
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15. Core American values of freedom are
reaffirmed
Which, if any, of these factors do you think contributes to America having stronger
values than other places in the world? Please tell me all that apply.
Freedom of speech 67%
Freedom of religion 61%
Free enterprise system 50%
Principles of equality 50%
The system laid out in our Constitution 50%
America’s ability to change and adapt 46%
Our form of government 44%
Upward mobility/ability to pull oneself up by bootstraps 44%
Being a melting pot / immigrant nation 42%
Christian heritage 40%
America’s influence in the world 39%
The influence of many religions 37%
Other 2%
None of the above 6%
Showing All
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16. Younger generations differ on importance of
free enterprise system
Which, if any, of these factors do you think contributes to America having stronger
values than other places in the world? Please tell me all that apply.
% say free enterprise system contributes to strong
American values
55% 61%
47%
36%
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
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17. Freedom of speech primarily extended to
voting and freedom of information
Which of the following do you think should be protected by the freedom of speech?
Please indicate all that apply.
Voting 70%
Freedom of information 64%
Commercial speech, such as advertising 48%
Freedom from internet censorship 46%
Donating money on political campaigns 37%
Viewing pornography 31%
Release of information pertaining to national security 31%
Hate speech (religious, racial, sexual orientation, etc) 27%
Flag-burning 27%
"Fighting words," or speech intended to incite crime 19%
Slander (false speech intended to harm another person) 18%
Other 2%
Showing All
None of the above 9%
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18. Family and K-12 education have the greatest
influence on our values
Only a litte A fair amount A great deal None at all
Family Higher
Friends education News Showing All
media Television
and movies Social media
33% 31% 20%
& the internet
46% 45% 39% 20%
73% 25% 11% Political
20% satirists
31% 26% 24% 14% 8% 6%
37% 40% 31% 24%
33% 33% 17% 16% 16%
32%
20% 30% 31% 33% 26%
20% 19% 21% 24% 23% 25%
14% 13% 17%
6%
1% 6% 8% 8% 9% 10%
The schools 19% 21% 22%
Books Religious 31% 31%
you attended 44% 43%
teachings Religious
48%
K through 12
leaders Political
leaders
Celebrities &
Political
professional
When you think of how we learn what "right and wrong" means, commentators
athletes
how much of an influence would you say the following sources
had or continue to have on developing your beliefs?
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19. Family and moral values are the most
important in Americans' lives
Which of the following types of values do you consider to be most
important in your life?
Family values 41%
Moral values 31%
Religious values 17%
Ethnic or cultural values 3%
Showing All
Values about beauty and art 2%
Political values 1%
Other 2%
None of the above 2%
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20. Obama, Clinton best represent American
values today
Whom do you think best represents American values today?
Showing All
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21. Two thirds lament the loss of traditional
family life, calling its loss damaging to society
The percentage of traditional families (with a married husband, wife, and potentially
children living together) among Americans has declined significantly over the past
several years. Do you think this has a positive, negative, or no particular impact on
American society?
Positive No impact Negative Don't know
11% 24% 64% 1%
Showing All
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22. Parents want more time with their kids but
daycare does not hinder success
39% of Parents say they are not able to spend as
& much time with their children as
49% of Dads they want to.
Believe children can grow up to be
51% of successful even if they spend a majority
of their developmental years in day care
Americans or other child-care services.
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23. Strong support for service to country
Should every American have an obligation to serve his or her country through
military/public or community service?
% Yes 61%
44%
Support mandatory military Support mandatory public or
service community service
Showing All
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24. Education system is an American value and should
prepare students for success and hard work
76% Of parents are more focused on preparing their children for
success in the future than making sure their child is happy now
82% Believe that the public education system is a central
American value
Which of these do you think should be the primary goal of public schools in America?
Instilling students with the values of dedication
and hard work 27%
Preparing students for successful careers 26%
Instilling students with the most academic
knowledge 18%
Preparing students to be active, engaged citizens 12%
Helping students get into the best colleges 6% Showing All
Helping students live happy lives 4%
Other 3%
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25. Americans perceive public schools in their
district to be better than schools nationally
What grade would you give the public schools in the nation as a whole / in
your district? – A, B, C, D, or FAIL?
Grade for public schools nationally Grade for public schools in your district
C
45%
B
33%
30%
22%
17% 13%
11% 11%
10%
3% 3% 2%
A B C D FAIL Don't A B C D FAIL Don't
know know
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26. Economy as on the wrong track and the most
important issue facing the country today
What do you think is the most important issue
facing this country today?
Economy and jobs 52%
66%
Deficit and gov't spending 6%
Health care 6%
Moral values / family values 5%
Big government/ bureaucracy 4%
Education 3%
Believe that the U.S. Partisan politics 3%
Fuel costs 2%
economy is off on the Terrorism and nat'l security 2%
wrong track War in Afghanistan 2%
Immigration 2%
Taxes 1%
Lack of opportunity 1%
Other 9%
Don’t know 2%
Showing All
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27. 49% think wealthy Americans had more
opportunities than others
In your opinion, which of the following is the
primary reason wealthy Americans have achieved
70%
financial success?
49%
…but
39%
believe that “with
hard work I can
9% accomplish
They were born into They worked harder They are just lucky
anything”
wealthy families or than most others to
had more be successful
opportunities than
others
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28. The view that what’s good for business is good for
America is losing resonance with younger Americans
How strongly do you agree or disagree with the statement: “What’s good for
business is good for America?”
Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Don't know
43% 28% 28% 1%
Showing All
% Agree
61%
38% 45%
35%
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
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29. Half think economic system is unfair to
middle- and working-class Americans
Do you think the economic system in America has been fair or unfair to
the following groups or individuals, or are you unsure?
Unsure Fair Unfair
57% 43%
49% 41%
34% 34% 41%
20% 27%
15% 14% 14% 13% 16%
22% 29%
34% 40%
51% 52% 46%
Wealthy
Americans First generation
You immigrants
Minorities
Women
Middle-class Working-class
Showing All
Americans Americans
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30. Wall Street values not in line with American
values
17%
think that executives at large Wall Street
banks share the same fundamental set
of values as other Americans
think that some of the executives at large
Wall Street banks, who presided over
71% significant financial losses leading to a
government bailout, should have gone to
jail as a result of the financial crisis
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31. Political system seen to reflect values of wealthy
due to influence of lobbyists and money
Our elected officials mainly reflect the
values of the wealthy 71%
The values of middle- and working-class
Americans are reflected by America’s 24%
elected officials
74% think that lobbyists have too much
power in American politics.
think there is too much money
82% concentrated among a small number of
groups and individuals spent on political
campaigns in America
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32. Thank you!
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